Willowbrook Welcomes First Ever Chick-fil-A

Posted By tiffanysimmons, Community Contributor

Twenty-one people showed up at Willowbrook's Chick-fil-A to camp out for a year's worth of Chick-fil-A. Around 3:00 p.m. they were up to 43 people. They will continue registering people until they reach 100 before 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Twenty-one people showed up at Willowbrook's Chick-fil-A to camp out for a year's worth of Chick-fil-A. Around 3:00 p.m. they were up to 43 people. They will continue registering people until they reach 100 before 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. (Posted By tiffanysimmons, Community Contributor)

Posted By tiffanysimmons, Community Contributor

Feb. 13 Opening of Willowbrook’s First Chick-fil-A Restaurant Includes Charity Food Drive and Awarding of Free Year’s Supply of Chick-fil-A Meals to First 100 in LineRestaurant on Kingery Highway Creates More Than 70 New Jobs; Second Chicagoland Restaurant to Open Within a Week WILLOWBROOK, Ill (Feb. 13, 2014) – Willowbrook’s first Chick-fil-A® restaurant will open Feb. 13 bringing more than 70 new jobs and celebrates opening with a food drive for HCS Family Services as well as the chance for 100 adults to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year. Chick-fil-A’s “First 100” event, which began as a way to celebrate the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A in Arizona in 2003, immediately became the cornerstone of every Chick-fil-A grand opening when the first person arrived more than 18 hours the day before, wondering where to get in line. Others soon followed and by the time the restaurant opened for business the next day, more than 100 were waiting. Humbled and surprised by the dedication of its fans, Chick-fil-A quickly implemented the “First 100” at every grand opening and in the past 10 years has given away more than $18 million in free food at almost 700 grand openings. An additional $2.65 million is slated to be given away at 88 grand openings this year.The new Willowbrook restaurant at 7101 Kingery Highway will be the scene of the latest Chick-fil-A grand opening celebration. The first 100 adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open about 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, each will win a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Meals (52 coupons with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries™ and a medium drink) – a total of more than $30,000 in free food. The line officially opens at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, with the free meal cards being awarded Thursday, Feb. 13, about 6 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately thereafter. If there are more than 100 people by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, all 100 spots will be determined by a drawing held that morning with those selected needing to camp out to secure their spot. For complete rules, see Chick-fil-A First 100 Promotion.In conjunction with the First 100 celebration, the Willowbrook Chick-fil-A is partnering with HCS Family Services to host a food drive Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the new location. With a minimum of five food items donated for the food pantry, donors will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A entrée (one coupon per a guest). First 100 participants camping out also will be engaged in the food drive by encouraging friends and family to donate items in their name with the top collector receiving a prize. HCS Family Services is a non-profit organization focused on preventing homelessness and helping low-income individuals achieve their dreams of sustained economic self-sufficiency and improved quality of life for themselves and their families.The new Chick-fil-A restaurant on Kingery Highway is one of the few in the country to combine the chain’s new premium architectural design with an interior window into the kitchen which allows dine-in guests to see the chain’s freshly prepared menu items being handcrafted by team members. The interior of the restaurant also includes a 40-foot long skylight, 14-foot ceilings, subway tile and metals in a variety of finishes and patinas all complimented by an abundance of windows allowing in plenty of natural light. The vintage-inspired interior seats 130 and includes a community table made of reclaimed timber and other unique custom features.Chick-fil-A first entered the state more than 30 years ago, opening in Moline, Ill., at Southpark Mall. The new Willowbrook Chick-fil-A restaurant is the 29th for the state and the second of five metro Chicago openings planned in 2014 that included a Feb. 6 opening in Elmhurst. This year Chick-fil-A will open more restaurants than ever before. The new Chick-fil-A on 7101 Kingery Highway is one of 88 new restaurants the chain plans to open across the country in 2014, creating more than 6,700 new jobs with 350 of those in Chicagoland alone. Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy first began serving his boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich, pressured cooked and served on a buttered bun with two crucial pickles, at the Dwarf Grill which opened in Hapeville, Ga., in 1946. It was the signature menu item when the first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in 1967 and though many other items have joined the menu over the years, it remains the centerpiece of the menu as the chain has grown to 1,785 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.Owner/Operator Doug Park has been selected to operate the new stand-alone restaurant in Willowbrook. Park is relocating to Willowbrook from Fredericksburg, Va. where he was a franchise owner of an ice cream establishment. Park is no newbie to the Chicago area; he worked in the metro-area for nearly six years before moving to Virginia where he also attended Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated with a degree in religious studies. Park and his wife Ann and their daughter are looking forward to serving the Willowbrook community. “Our focus on freshly prepared food and personal customer service is as central to our new restaurant as it was the day Truett opened his first Chick-fil-A location,” said Park. “That commitment continues for me and my team members at our new Willowbrook location where we can’t wait to welcome and serve our guests.”The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m. As part of the chain’s ongoing commitment to offer fresh, delicious and nutritious options, the Willowbrook restaurant’s menu will feature its new line of premium salads that are handcrafted onsite using top-quality ingredients and include Cobb, Asian and Grilled Market Salads and a Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap. For a limited time, the chain brought back its popular Chicken Tortilla Soup made with shredded breast of chicken, three beans and a blend of vegetables and spices and topped with seasoned corn tortilla strips.Chick-fil-A continues to win industry accolades including Men’s Health “Eat This, Not That” 2013 edition which again gave the chain high marks (A-) and named it one of the top two restaurants providing healthier menu options. For more information on the first Willowbrook Chick-fil-A restaurant, visit www.chick-fil-a.com/willowbrook or find the restaurant on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cfawillowbrook.